What is this?

Fourteen years ago, a provincial government bent on cost-cutting and privatization contributed to a deadly water-borne disaster that unfolded over the Victoria Day long weekend – one that Ontario taxpayers are still paying for.

Now, a new would-be Progressive Conservative premier, Tim Hudak, is pledging to slash 100,000 public sector jobs – cuts far deeper than those that paved the way for the Walkerton, Ont., tragedy in May 2000.

Just where Hudak does contemplate his cuts is critical information to know, said former Walkerton mayor Charlie Bagnato.

“He’s proving that he’s a disciple of Mike Harris and what happened with Mike Harris ultimately was fairly negative,” Bagnato said Thursday.

“Mike Harris came in with a flourish and appeared to be accomplishing something, but then we paid the price and we just certainly just hope that never happens again.”

To date, according to the latest figures, about $74 million has been paid to more than 9,000 victims of the E. coli outbreak – Englishman among them – but some compensation bills are still outstanding.

In addition, the province has forked out tens of millions of dollars more in legal fees, helping the town rehabilitate its water system, and footing the health-care bills for those affected.

Some of those who lived in the town at the time are still coping with the after effects of E. coli infection – like Kody Hammell, who was just shy of two years old when his kidneys were permanently damaged by the bad water.

Englishman blames the water for a stroke he had, and notes the trauma of those terrible days still persists – often in small ways.

“A lot of people, like me, still don’t drink the water,” he said.

The tragedy did lead to huge improvements in Ontario’s drinking-water regimen, with the Liberal government implementing every one of the recommendations that flowed from the inquiry led by then-justice Dennis O’Connor.

Government, Wynne said, exists to help protect people.

“I cannot myself test my water. I rely on government to make sure that the water that I drink and the water that my children and my grandchildren drink is safe.”